Chapter 17 Research Project

S O C I A L D A R W I N I S M


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Big Fish vs. Little Fish: Social Warfare
  • A belief or philosophy created by scientist Herbert Spencer that stated that only the strongest and fittest should survive and flourish in society and the weak should be left to die out; Spencer believed that his theory was more ethical than scientific; he believed not only in survival of the fittest but that it was morally accurate
  • The Theory was continued by Charles Darwin, whom incooperated his theories of adaptation and natural selection
    • Natural Selection: a key mechanism of evolution, the process by which traits become more or less common in a population due to consistent effects upon the survival or reproduction of their bearers
    • Adaptation: a speices ability to adapt to a environment and the conditions of that environment
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Charles Darwin
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Herbert Spencer



Social Darwinism Applied to Societal Life & Social Classes


  • Social Darwinism in America came to light as the economic growth in America steadily began to increase; bussiness men in America also used the theory as a means of demeaning lower social classes and justifying the reasons in which unsuccessful American industries were being weaded out as the American industry began to fully flourish; it also justified the reasons in which the American economy was so competitive making American business industries more of a "battlefield as opposed to a playground"
  • The theory said that the American economy grew as did a ecosystem -- with weaker lower classes and stronger upperclasses, and the lower classes died out while the upper classes ultimately ruled the populations-- Example: slaves or peasants and the Aristocracys and White slave owners
  • the theory still exsist today in the American Economy: how bigger business industries are eliminating smaller businesses due to better funding -- it reflects the American desire to eliminate their issues instead of accomodating them, however this part did not transfer over into the American economy thus evident through welfare programs and economic acts that allowed for struggling people or industries to reboost themselves through the help of the government : examples Foodstamps, section 8 housing, WIC, ect..
Conclusion
Although the theory fluctuated throughout American society for quite sometime, it never truly became apart of American social life or the American economic principles at that. America became a society governed for the people by the people, a democracy in which everyone essentially, had a say in what was to happen. Thus, Social Darwinsim does not fit into context of the American life because of the opputunities the nation "offers" to the weak when threatened with a chance of "dying out"; thus foodstamps, and welfare are all availiable to allow our stuggling citizens to get back on their feet and no longer fit into the area of the unfit.

Works Cited

http://www.freeessays.cc/db/26/hmd365.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism#United_States


Second Industrial Revolution Bubble Web



What did they do? How did they impact soceity?

Horatio Alger

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  • He was a 19th century American profolic writer who wrote stories about impoverished children and there rise from humble backgrounds to middleclass comfortable lifestyles. His works of literature promoted to unfortunate children the possibilities of "rags to riches" and social mobility. Taught young men in society to make the most oppurtunities.
  • Re-enfroced the idea of the self made man to provide the youth of America to take risks and to push oneself to become whatever it is you can make of yourself.

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Louisa May Alcott

  • American author known for her work in children books, and novels for women to promote women to take advantage of oppurtunities in a time where female rights were so limited.-- women could have intellectual ideas and acheivement--active suffragist
Chapter Seventeen Question Notes
vertical intergration
horizontal integration
the assembly line-- mass production







Imperialism

  • Industrial nations dominating pre-industrial/developing countries
  • Developed Countries are allowed to do this because of there advancements in technology, military, weapontry, politics, ect.
Definition:
a policy of forcefully expanding a nations authority through territorial gain or territorial expansion
a policy of extending a nations rule over foriegn countires
empire building
terrirtorial acquistion -- economic or political interest

Motivations

economic interest
political power
resources--trade
expand civilization/colonization
overall expansion
money
competition-territorial expansion
Examples of U.S. Imperialism
The Louisiana Purchase
Alaska
California
Missouri
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
Florida
Texas
New Mexico
The Trans-Appalahian West
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Movie Notes:

Strategy of Jose Marti: destroy sugar plantations run by Americans-- in order for America to come to Cuba to help and get involved-- this failed when Spain came into stop the rebellions
Cuban Revolutionist were sent to concentration camps as a result/punishment of the rebellions
Yellow Journalism: exaggerated sensationalized newspaper writting-- Peter Fredrick Rimington was one of the reporters
Right after the Spanish American war, the Americans fight with the Phillipeens in order to take control when they only wanted independence from Spain
Buffalo Soldiers-- African American soldiers

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The Spanish- American War

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WHO?American milita, Spanish Militia, Cuba, Phillipeens, Puerto Rico, Guam
Jose Marti
Democratic Party
William McKinely
Rough Riders & General Leonard Wood
Anti-Imperialist League
Emilio Aguinalda
Buffalo Soldiers




WHAT ?
A conflict between Spain and America that arose due to the political oppositions to the tensions between Spain and Cuba in its efforts to establish independence;the revolts by the Cubans against the Spanish were carefully watch by America for years and were given greater an influence through yellow journalism; the mysterious sinking of the U.S.S Maine ultimately pushed the Americans to war and then finally when Jose Marti and other rebellions rose up and destroyed U.S. sugar plantations as a strategy to get the Americans to fight against Cuba, instead this made Spain punish Cuba even greater frustrations-- enabling concentration camps for the rebellions
WHERE?
Cuba, Puerto Rico ( Carribean), Phillipeens, Guam ( Asian-Pacific)
WHY ?
The destruction of the U.S.S. Maine literally began the war, however there were other motives behind the war:
economic interference in Cuba
Imperialistic motives of both Spain and America in the Spanish colonies: Guam, Phillipe's, Puerto Rico

WHEN?
On January 25, 1898 the U.S.S Maine enters Havana Harbor, three weeks later it blew up starting off the war
War was declared on April 25-August 12 1898 when the war ended
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What is your thesis of United States history, 1781 to 1915?


Throughout the period of 1781 to 1915, the United States of America had began its transition from what was once the thirteen original colonies to what became America, this transition made possible as a result of constant change and progression not only within the economy,politics, but society as a whole. Imperialism, technological advances, war, industrialization/urbanization, and societal progression helped establish America as the super power it has become today

Vanesha: Between 1781 and 1915 the United States of America struggled to take on the position of a leading world power, this seen in Americas political strides ,economic growth, and foreign involvement during this period.

Group thesis: Between 1781 and 1915 the United States of America went through a constant state of change and progression as they began its struggled to take on the position of a leading world power, this seen in Americas political instability, economic growth, and foreign involvement during this period.
Key Support
  • Imperialism, war, foreign involvement, urbanization, industrialization., technological advancements,constitution--constitutional amendments, education movements,
  • slavery debate--constitution interpretation, popular sovereignty


How was it a theme throughout U.S. History? Detail of them?

Theme: a reoccuring concept, issue, development, or main idea-- something important that keeps coming back

  • Demographic Changes
Demographic changes is a re-occuring theme throughout the history of the United States because the population and its characteristics underwent periods of constant change, growth, and intergration. As the nation expand in other areas of life: socially, economically, politically, technologically, the demographics of the nation changed also. The Demographics of the United States changed due to immigration and emmigration typically of the early colonial settlments, slavery, colonization, urbanization, industrialization, war ( Civil War), baby booms, disease/epedemics, health and science brake throughts, educational and occupational opputunities, ect.. All of the reoccuring changes in society and overall progression of the nation led demographic change to become a theme in the United States because that it was the nation represents today: demographic diversity due to change.

    • religious diversity
Reform
Reform is a continuous aspect and reoccuring theme throughout the history of the United States of America because the nations well-being and politically stablitity was based on the presents of constant reform. There are constant eras of reform following periods of downfall in America just a few examples would be presidency refroms ( Jeffersonian Era, Jakcsonain Era), educational reform, health reforms after the industrail revolution, economic reforms following the great depression, world war, and the economic reforms in present day presented by Obama.